Tobacco legislation in Malta : a short overview

The aim of this article is to briefly describe legislation dealing with tobacco control in Malta. Although no actual strategy on tobacco control is in place to date, Malta’s tobacco control approach is mainly based on comprehensive legislation arising mostly from of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Malta’s ratification of this international WHO treaty was instrumental in the passing of such legislation of which the most important features are banning of all tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and the prohibition of smoking in public and work places. EU Regulations, most importantly Directive 2014/40/EU on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC, was also contributory to the introduction of stronger packaging regulations and new regulatory frameworks for the control of electronic cigarettes and new and emerging tobacco products under the classification of novel tobacco products. While increases in excise tax is generally regarded as an effective tobacco control measure, tobacco control legislation also plays an important role in a comprehensive tobacco control strategy. Bans on tobacco advertising, bans on smoking in public and work places and pictorial health warnings on packaging denormalise smoking and are likely to make other tobacco control interventions more effective.peer-reviewe

National mapping survey of indoor radon levels in the Maltese Islands (2010-2011)

Aim: To conduct a national geographically based survey to determine the distribution of the mean annual indoor radon gas concentration levels in dwellings in the Maltese Islands and map these levels; to identify any areas with annual mean indoor radon gas concentrations higher than the current proposed WHO reference level of 100 Bq/m3; to determine an advisory national reference level for radon concentration in buildings. Method: Radon measurements were carried out in 85 buildings distributed over the Maltese Islands between November 2010 and November 2011 using alpha-track radon detectors. Retrieved detectors were analysed by a Health Protection Agency-accredited laboratory in the UK. The overall annual arithmetic and geometric mean indoor radon gas concentrations for the Maltese Islands were calculated. Results: The mean annual indoor radon concentration for the Maltese Islands was 32 Bq/m3, with a geometric mean of 25 Bq/m3 (standard deviation (SD) 25). The maximum level measured was 92 Bq/m3 and the minimum 11 Bq/m3. A radon map of the Maltese Islands was produced using the geographic mean annual indoor radon gas concentration level for each building. Conclusion: The mean annual indoor radon concentration in Malta was found to be well below the lowest proposed WHO reference levels with no dwellings having a mean annual indoor radon gas concentration above 100 Bq/m3. This national mapping survey for mean annual indoor radon gas concentration in the Maltese Islands indicates that the current proposed reference level of 100 Bq/m3 by the WHO may be adopted as the national reference level for the Maltese Islands.peer-reviewe